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Photoshop: masking layer styles

I wonder if there's any way to mask layer styles like "Drop Shadow" without losing it.

What I do to mask a drop shadow is:
1- Right-click on "effects" (the corresponding layer style) and select "Create layer". This way, the drop shadow effect is converted into a new layer underneath the current one.
2- I select this new layer, and click on "Add Vector Mask".
3- I use this mask to hide everything of the "drop shadow" effect I don't want to show.

Major problem with this: it's an irreversible method. What if I have to change some parameter in the drop dhadow effect?? or add a new one? I lost my layer style.

You can add every layer a bunch of effects: drop shadow, inner/outer glow, bevel/emboss, satin... you must know what I'm talking about.

What I intend to do is to cover (hide) some parts of these effects without covering the pixels of the layer they are attached to.

The only way I know to do this, is by converting those effects which are applied to the same layer into different underlying layers which then I can easily mask, but it's an irreversible process. Well, I could duplicate the initial layer including its effects, but,

My husband says you can try this: (apologies in advance if the english isn't clear enough. He's been doing graphic design forever, but doesn't usually explain his methods!)

always work on a copy of your original layer
hide the original
work with a copy
add your layer mask and make your changes
use the original if you need to make changes later by changing another copy of the original
expand it so you get your drop shadow or effect on its own layer again.
Copy the mask
paste it into the new layer